Mite might trim old man’s beard

OLD MAN’S BEARD MUST GO: The Gisborne District Council has made an application to the Environment Protection Authority to introduce Aceria vitalbae (gall mite) to control this pest. File picture

A tiny mite may hold the solution for Gisborne District Council and other regional councils to a long standing weed control problem.

The National Biocontrol Collective, made up of the Department of Conservation (DoC) and 14 regional councils, including Gisborne District Council (GDC), have made an application to the Environment Protection Authority to introduce Aceria vitalbae (a gall mite), in an attempt to control one of the country’s worst plant pests, old man’s beard.

Identified as a problem for more than 30 years, Clematis vitalba (old mans beard) hit the headlines during the 1980s when bearded botanic man David Bellamy fronted an advertising campaign and developed the famous catchphrase, “Old man’s beard must go”.

At least four different methods of eradicating the creeper costing millions of dollars every year has produced minimal results.

GDC biosecurity team leader, Phil Karaitiana said the use of gall mite was still under consideration regionally.

“The proposed application to the EPA to release gall mite will be an alternate tool to chemicals for controlling this invasive climbing and smothering pest weed.”

“The council will monitor Landcare Research updates on control outcomes of the gall mite if the application is approved by EPA.”

Five regional councils recently estimated they spend approximately $760,000 a year to fight old man’s beard. The gall mite is minute, at about one millimetre long and has shown to be effective in significantly damaging old man’s beard plants in studies conducted overseas.

As the mite feeds, it induces growth abnormalities, or galls, on the buds and developing leaves of the host plant. The mites breed within those galls and suck out the plant’s juices, eventually killing it. The formation of galls reduces the growth rate of the weed and may cause shoots to die back. Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research is the science provider for the application, and consulted widely before choosing six exotic Clematis species or hybrids for host range testing at the University of Belgrade in Serbia. According to the applicant, the results suggest the gall mite is expected to effectively colonise only old man’s beard in New Zealand.

Occasional galls may be expected on exotic, non-target Clematis species, but the presence of low numbers of mites is unlikely to cause them damage. The application says that old man’s beard causes environmental damage throughout most of New Zealand, often in distant or inaccessible areas of high conservation value.

Biological control by the gall mite could provide a safe and sustainable alternative to mechanical and chemical methods of control, the applicant says.

The gall mite could also disperse to isolated infestations that are inaccessible, or unknown to land owners. It would persist from year to year.

Successful biological control of the weed would mean reduced costs for regional councils, DoC and other land owners. Public submissions on this application close at 5pm on August 29.

A tiny mite may hold the solution for Gisborne District Council and other regional councils to a long standing weed control problem.

The National Biocontrol Collective, made up of the Department of Conservation (DoC) and 14 regional councils, including Gisborne District Council (GDC), have made an application to the Environment Protection Authority to introduce Aceria vitalbae (a gall mite), in an attempt to control one of the country’s worst plant pests, old man’s beard.

Identified as a problem for more than 30 years, Clematis vitalba (old mans beard) hit the headlines during the 1980s when bearded botanic man David Bellamy fronted an advertising campaign and developed the famous catchphrase, “Old man’s beard must go”.

At least four different methods of eradicating the creeper costing millions of dollars every year has produced minimal results.

GDC biosecurity team leader, Phil Karaitiana said the use of gall mite was still under consideration regionally.

“The proposed application to the EPA to release gall mite will be an alternate tool to chemicals for controlling this invasive climbing and smothering pest weed.”

“The council will monitor Landcare Research updates on control outcomes of the gall mite if the application is approved by EPA.”

Five regional councils recently estimated they spend approximately $760,000 a year to fight old man’s beard. The gall mite is minute, at about one millimetre long and has shown to be effective in significantly damaging old man’s beard plants in studies conducted overseas.

As the mite feeds, it induces growth abnormalities, or galls, on the buds and developing leaves of the host plant. The mites breed within those galls and suck out the plant’s juices, eventually killing it. The formation of galls reduces the growth rate of the weed and may cause shoots to die back. Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research is the science provider for the application, and consulted widely before choosing six exotic Clematis species or hybrids for host range testing at the University of Belgrade in Serbia. According to the applicant, the results suggest the gall mite is expected to effectively colonise only old man’s beard in New Zealand.

Occasional galls may be expected on exotic, non-target Clematis species, but the presence of low numbers of mites is unlikely to cause them damage. The application says that old man’s beard causes environmental damage throughout most of New Zealand, often in distant or inaccessible areas of high conservation value.

Biological control by the gall mite could provide a safe and sustainable alternative to mechanical and chemical methods of control, the applicant says.

The gall mite could also disperse to isolated infestations that are inaccessible, or unknown to land owners. It would persist from year to year.

Successful biological control of the weed would mean reduced costs for regional councils, DoC and other land owners. Public submissions on this application close at 5pm on August 29.